Tips for Choosing a Towing Service

ByMyrtis L. David
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Whenever you need to call a tow truck, more than likely it will be in a stressful situation. If you are frantically searching “towing near me” on your phone, something has probably gone wrong. That is why towing companies often charge so much money. They know you need them, and they charge premium prices. While getting your car or truck towed might be inherently stressful, it doesn’t mean you should get ripped off.

Many people find having some sort of roadside assistance alleviates a lot of stress if something goes wrong with their automobile. People who are avid drivers or even live on the road, like truckers or RV owners, will often pay premiums through their insurance to have top-quality roadside assistance. Often these large truck or RV owners will have to pay big bucks for large vehicle towing. For them, taking care of it ahead of time with a roadside assistance plan is the only way.

When you are under pressure to get your car towed in an emergency, throw any pro tips out the window. However, if you are the kind of driver that prepares for the worst, here are some tips for choosing a tow service:

  • Towing is one of those things in life that you might not need often, but when you do, you want someone who knows what they are doing. Not only does that mean the tow truck drivers have probably seen it all and can help no matter the circumstance, but it also means the tow company has been in business for a long time. They are probably trustworthy and professional if they’ve been in the business for a while. Ideally you should look for a company that has been in the business for at least five years.
  • Quality service. One of the great things about searching, “towing near me” is the fact that one of the first things that will come up about a towing company are its online reviews. Make sure you pay attention to them. You’ll want to give your business to a company that cares about its customers enough to offer up the best service. Also, don’t hesitate to ask family, friends, or neighbors. Towing is one of those businesses where word of mouth still means something.
  • Service variety. Believe it or not, not all tows are created equally. Some providers only provide local towing, or they might not be able to handle large vehicle towing. The best thing to do is to partner with a towing company that can do it all. You never know if you’re going to need a long-distance tow. If you’re an RV driver or a trucker, you need to make sure your towing service can handle your vehicle.
  • Proper licensing and insurance. Make sure your tow company is properly licensed to operate in your city and state. Also, be sure they have the proper insurance to deal with your automobile. You’re already having car trouble, don’t add the headache of a tow company without the proper liability insurance.